Device for actuating mechanical linkages



'July 5, 1966 c. c. ZUBlRlA 3,259,362

DEVICE FOR ACTUA'IING MECHANICAL LINKAGES Filed Jan. 9. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

July 5, 1966 c. c. ZUBlRlA DEVICE FOR ACTUATING MECHANICAL LINKAGES Filed Jan. 9. 1964 R. m G e [Maw/W52 Zme/A MW Arm/avers.

United States Patent 3,259,362 DEVICE FOR ACTUATZNG MECHANIEAL LINKAGES Carlos Chavez Zubiria, Republican de El Salvador 56, Mexico City, Mexico Filed Jan. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 336,661 2 Claims. (Cl. 253-18) This invention relates to a device for causing movement of mechanical linkages and more particularly to a fluid material actuated means for causing relative movement of various elements in advertising devices or the like.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, utilize, and maintain.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device actuated by fluid material such as water or the like and providing a source of motive energy for causing relative movement of mechanical linkages operatively connected to suitable parts on advertising mechanisms to animate the same or to vary the color or legend of various portions of the same by moving selected parts in relation to fixed portions of the advertisement in a predetermined manner whereby they will attract the attention of viewers.

It will be readily understood that although the device of the instant invention is particularly adapted for utilization in conjunction with advertising mechanisms, it would be readily adapted for causing movement of any mechanical linkages in a desired predetermined manner.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of such a device wherein the movement of the mechanical linkages is responsive to a feed rate of -a fluid material into a container means, the feed rate being regulated by the quantity of fluid material already in the container means.

Other and further objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view in elevation of a preferred embodiment of the device of the instant invention showing a different position of the actuating means during the cycle of operation in dotted lines and also showing means for moving an additional mechanical linkage in dotted lines;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIGURE 1 with the cover of the container means removed;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view in elevation of another embodiment of the device of the instant invention showing means for moving an additional mechanical linkage in dotted lines;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view in elevation of a third embodiment of the device of the instant invention showing parts of additional gear means to be operatively connected to the mechanical linkage to be moved in dotted lines;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIGURE 5; and

:FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in general and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, one embodiment of a device for causing movement of the mechanical linkages in accordance with the instant invention is designated generally by the reference numeral ill) and comprises basically a container means 12 such as a tub or the like of metal or other desired material having a cover member 14 and being adapted to contain a quantity of fluid material 16 such as water or the like having an upper surface 18 and being fed from a fluid material feeding means 20' connected to a source of the same (not shown).

Avalve means 22 is operatively connected in the fluid material feeding means 20 and includes a rotatable valve member 24 to which is fixed a rigid angular member 26 secured by a plurality of braces 28 to a float means 30 buoyantly carried on the surface '18 of the fluid material 16. The rigid member 26 in conjunction with the rotatable valve member 24 together define an operative connecting means between the float means 30 and the valve means 22 for varying the quantity of fluid material fed to the container means 12 from the fluid material feeding means 20 in response to changes in the level of the surface 18 of the fluid material 16. Preferably, as the float means 30 is raised by the fluid material '16, the rig-id member 26 turns the rotatable valve member 24 to close the valve means 22 and thereby decrease the feed rate of the fluid material feeding means 2%. On lowering of the float means 30 in response to a decrease in the level of the surface 18 of the fluid material '16, the operative connecting means opens the valve means 22 to increase the feed rate.

A fluid material take-off means 32 is operatively secured to the container means i12 and includes a throttle valve 34 to allow the fluid material 16 to be selectively removed from the container means r12 at a predetermined rate of flow.

The specific actuating means for causing movement of the mechanical linkage in the embodiment of FIGURES l and 2 comprises basically a tray member designated generally by the reference numeral 36 having one portion of its peripheral edge secured by straps or the like 38 and peripheral elements as to a hinge means including an elongated hinge member 42 rotatably supported in bearings 44 received in slots 46 defined in the side Wall of the container means 12 to facilitate cleaning and maintenance. The tray member 36 has central concave portions 48 disposed beneath the outlet end 50 of the fluid material feeding means 20. Biasing means in the form of a pair of springs or the like 52 secured to bracket members 54 carried by the container means 12 are connected to the periphery of the tray member 36 at points spaced from its pivotal mounting about the hinge member 42. The biasing means normally urge the tray member 36 to the substantially horizontal relationship shown in full lines in FIGURE l, the tray member being pivoted to the dotted relationship shown at 36 against the urging of the spring 52' under the weight of fluid material received in the concave port-ions 48 from the fluid material feeding means 20.

A flexible means 56 such as a wire or the like is secured to the tray member 36 at 58 in juxtaposition to the biasing means and is operatively connected to the mechanical linkage whereby pivotal movement of the tray member 36 about the hinge member 42 causes a corresponding movement of the mechanical linkage. Flexible means 56 passes over a plurality of pulleys 60 and may either be fixed to a plurality of counterweight members 62 before passing through a connecting tube 64 leading to the mechanical linkage (not shown) or may be carried directly through a substantially horizontal connecting tube 64' as shown at 56'. A stop member 66 may be secured to the flexible means 56 or 56' to limit the actual movement of the mechanical linkage regardless of the pivotal movement of the tray member 36. It will be readily understood that the opposite end of the flexible means 56 or 56 can be operatively connected in any conventional manner to a mechanical linkage which is to be moved by the device ill. Also, it will be readily seen that a plurality of flexible means may be secured to the tray member 36 whereby a plurality of mechanical linkages may be moved simultaneously by pivotal movement of the tray member 36. Similarly, a plurality of mechanical linkages may be operatively connected to a single flexible means 56.

The use and operation of the device of FIGURES 1 and 2 will now be apparent. The throttle valve 34 on the fluid material take-off means 32 may be either fixed to operate at a continuous predetermined rate of flow or may be varied in accordance with any desired system to change the amount of fluid material 16 removed from the container means 12 during operation of the device. Preferably, the removal of the fluid material 16 is maintained at a constant rate of flow in order that the actuation of the mechanical linkage will be fully responsive to the feed rate from the fluid material feeding means 20. As fluid material is fed from the fluid material feeding means onto the tray member 36, the tray member is pivoted about its hinge member 42 toward the dotted position 36 against the influence of the biasing means. The flexible means 56 is moved by pivotal motion of the tray member '36 and since this flexible means 56 is operatively connected to the mechanical linkage a corresponding movement of the mechanical linkage is realized. As the tray member 36 is pivoted downwardly a portion of the fluid material 16 spills over its lower peripheral edge into the container means 12 thereby raising the level of the surface 18 of the fluid material 16 and correspondingly raising the float to decrease the feed rate from the fluid material feeding means 20 by rotating the valve member 24 with the rigid member 26. Decrease of the feed rate causes upward movement of the tray member 36 and a corresponding movement of the mechanical linkage. Also, as the feed rate decreases the fluid material 16 within the container means 12 is being continuously withdrawn through the fluid material take-off means 32 thereby lowering the level of the surface 18 of the fluid material 16 and the float means 39 to open the valve means 22 and increase the feed rate. This action will be continuously repeated causing a predetermined cycle of movements in the mechanical linkage to which the flexible means 56 is operatively connected. Variations in the movements can be readily accomplished by varying the initial feed rate through the fluid material feeding means Zll or the rate of flow through the fluid material take-01f means 32 to give an infinite variety of predetermined and reproducible movements to a chosen mechanical linkage.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGURES 3 and 4 wherein like parts are designated by similar reference characters with the suffix a, the actuating means in this embodiment is the float means 30a itself through which is connected a flexible means 56a passing over pulley means 60a and through a conducting tube 64a to the mechanical linkage (not shown). An alternate take-01f for the flexible means is shown at 56a wherein it passes over pulley means 6% and carries counterweight member 62a' before passing through a conducting tube 64a to the mechanical linkage. The float means 30a has stop members 68 secured to its lower side which prevents blocking of the fluid material take-oft" means 32a. A plurality of counterweight members 70 having radial slots 72 are carried over the flexible means 56a to selectively increase the weight of the float means 30a.

The operative connecting means between the float means 30a and the valve means 22a in the fluid material feeding means 20a of this embodiment comprises an outstanding rigid member 74 secured to the rotatable valve member 24a and carrying a weighted means such as a fan member or the like 76 at its extremity, the weighted means 76 normally biasing the valve means 22a to an open relationship and being positioned in the path of travel of the float means 30a whereby the weighted means 76 will be engaged by the float means 30a on upward movement of the same to close the valve means 22a and stop or diminish the flow of fluid material 16a into the container means 12a.

A shed 78 may be carried by the cover member 14a of the container means 12a in overlying relationship to the opening for the flexible means 56a toavoid contamination by rain water or the like.

The use and operation of the embodiment of FIG- URES 3 and 4 will now be apparent. Movement of the mechanical linkage operatively connected to the flexible means 56a or 56:! will be caused by corresponding movement of the float means 30a as the level of the surface 18a of the fluid material 1601 is raised and lowered. The valve means 22a is normally maintained open by the rigid member 74 and the weighted means 76 whereby the container means 12a will be filled by the fluid material ll6a, the rate of flow through the fluid material take-off means 32a being normally lower than the maximum feed rate. As the float means 30a engages the Weighted means 76 the valve means 22a is closed to decrease or stop the feeding of fluid material whereby the level of the surface 18a will again be lowered to reproduce the cycle of movement in the mechanical linkage.

The embodiment of FIGURES 5 to 7 has portions similar to the previous embodiment designated by like reference characters with the suflix b. The actuating means of this device is comprised basically of a wheel member 869 having portions defining a plurality of radially extending concave pockets 82, one such pocket being shown in cross section in FIGURE 7. A power take-off shaft 84 is secured substantially centrally to the wheel member 80 and is rotatably carried by bearing means 86 secured to the cover member 1417 of the container means 121) in a position inclined to the vertical. The wheel member Stl extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the shaft member 84 whereby it is inclined to the horizontal with certain of its pockets 82 being higher than other of its pockets and being disposed below the outlet end 50b of the fluid material feeding means 20b. Fluid material 16b received by the higher pockets causes rotation of the wheel member 80 to position other of the pockets beneath the outlet end Sill) of the fluid material feeding means Ztlb. The peripheral edge of the wheel member 80 is defined by the edge portion 38 of the individual pockets 82, the wheel member 80 being so designed that the edge portions 88 of the lowermost pockets 82 are disposed substantially horizontally as seen in FIGURE 7 whereby fluid material 1611 will spill thereover into the container means 121) facilitating continual rotation of the wheel member 82.

The power take-off shaft 84 has bevel gear means and/ or spur gear means 92 adapted to intermesh with additional gear means 94 and 96 operatively connected by shafts 98 and 1% to the mechanical linkage (not shown) to be moved by the device 1012.

The float means 30b of this embodiment is connected by a rigid member 26b to the rotatable valve member 2412 of the valve means 22b in the fluid material feeding means 20b to operate in a manner similar to the fluid means of the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2.

The use and operation of the device shown in FIG- URES 5 to 7 will now be apparent. As fluid material 16b is fed from the fluid material feeding means 20]) t0 the uppermost pockets 82 of the inclined wheel member 80, it causes rotation of the power take-off shaft 84 about the bearing means 86 and corresponding rotation of the bevel gear means 90 and the spur gear means 92 which intermesh with the additional gear means 94 and 96 to rotate the shafts 98 and which are operatively connected in any conventional manner to the mechanical linkage (not shown) to be motivated. As the fluid material 1612 spills ofl the edge portions 88 of the lowermost pockets 82 of the wheel member 80 the level of the surface 18!) is raised thereby raising the float means 30b and closing the valve means 22b to decrease the feed rate and thus decrease the speed of rotation of the power take-off shaft 84. This decrease in feed rate combined with the rate of flow of fluid from the fluid material take-01f means 32b again lowers the level of the surface 18b of the fluid material 16b whereby the float means 30]) opens the valve means 22b to start another cycle of operation.

It will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved device for causing movement of one or more mechanical linkages according to any predetermined cycle which may be readily varied to change the frequency or extent of the movement and which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A device for causing movement of a mechanical linkage comprising; a flexible member operatively connected to the linkage, container means adapted to hold a quantity of fluid material therewithin, said fluid material having an upper surface within said container means,

fluid material feeding means having an outlet end within said container means, valve means operatively connected in said fluid material feeding means, float means within said container means buoyantly carried on said surface of said fluid material, operative connecting means between said float means and said valve means for varying the quantity of said fluid material fed to said container means in response to changes in the level of said surface of said fluid material, said operative connecting means opening said valve means to increase the feed rate as said surface is lowered and closing said valve means to decrease the feed rate as said surface is raised, actuating means responsive to the feed rate to cause movement of said flexible member and hence the mechanical linkage, and a fluid material take-ofl means operatively secured to said container means to remove said fluid material at a predetermined rate of flow, said actuating means including a tray member, hinge means Within said container means pivotally supporting said tray member at one point on the periphery of the same, concave central portions of said tray member being disposed beneath said outlet end of said fluid material feeding means, biasing means secured to opposite points on the periphery of said tray member, said biasing means normally urging said tray member to a substantially horizontal relationship, said flexible member being secured to said tray member in juxtaposition to said biasing means whereby pivotal movement of said tray member about said hinge means causes a corresponding movement of flexible member and hence the mechanical linkage.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said operative connecting means between said float means and said valve means includes a rotatable valve member on said valve means, and a rigid member carried by said float means and secured to said rotatable valve member whereby movement of said float means turns said rotatable valve member to open and close said valve means,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,474 1/1894 Bate 137-404 616,995 1/1899 Wangelin 137403 999,579 8/1911 Mecham 253--18 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,359 6/1880 France. 899,371 8/1944 France.

3,864 1891 Great Britain.

EDGAR W. GEOGHEGAN, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL LEVINE, Examiner.

E. A. POWELL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR CAUSING MOVEMENT OF A MECHANICAL LINKAGE COMPRISING; A FLEXIBLE MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE LINKAGE, CONTAINER MEANS ADPATED TO HOLD A QUANTITY OF FLUID MATERIAL THEREWITHIN, SAID FLUID MATERIAL HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEANS, FLUID MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS HAVING AN OUTLET END WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEANS, VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED IN SAID FLUID MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS, FLOAT MEANS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEANS BUOYANTLY CARRIED ON SAID SURFACE OF SAID FLUID MATERIAL, OPERATIVE CONNECTIONG MEANS BETWEEN SAID FLOAT MEANS AND SAID VALVE MEANS FOR VARYING THE QUANTITY OF SAID FLUID MATERIAL FED TO SAID CONTAINER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF SAID SURFACE OF SAID FLUID MATERIAL, SAID OPERATIVE CONNECTING MEANS OPENING SAID VALVE MEANS TO INCREASE THE FEED RATE AS SAID SURFACE IS LOWERED AND CLOSING SAID VALVE MEANS TO DECREASED THE FEED RATE AS SAID SURFACE IS RAISED, ACTUATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE FEED RATE TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER AND HENCE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE, AND A FLUID MATERIAL TAKE-OFF MEANS OPERATIVELY SECURED TO SAID CONTAINER MEANS TO REMOVE SAID FLUID MATERIAL AT A PREDETERMINED RATE OF FLOW, SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING A TRAY MEMBER, HINGE MEANS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID TRAY MEMBER AT ONE POINT ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE SAME, CONCAVE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF SAID TRAY MEMBER BEING DISPOSED BENEATH SAID OUTLETS END OF SAID FLUID MATERIAL FEEDING MEANS, BIASING MEANS SECURED TO OPPOSITE POINTS ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TRAY MEMBER, SAID BIASING MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID TRAY MEMBER TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIP, SAID FLEXIBLE MEMBER BEING SECURED TO SAID TRAY MEMBER IN JUXTAPOSTION TO SAID BIASING MEANS WHEREBY PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAY MEMBER ABOUT SAID HINGE MEANS CAUSES A CORRESPONDING MOVEMENT OF FLEXIBLE MEMBER AND HENCE THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE. 